Terms Related to Fiction - Figures of Speech

Allusion

a reference to an historical event, aspect of culture, character or content in a piece of literature, or other widely known type of information to convey a feeling, idea, or image; serves to convey information using a few words.

Apostrophe 

where the speaker speaks to a dead or non-present person

Extended metaphor –

direct comparison which is repeated in the poem; more commonly used in an epic poem where the same comparison is used throughout

Extended simile – 

comparison using the word "like" or "as" which is repeated in the poem; more commonly used in an epic poem where the same comparison is used throughout.

Figurative language 

language that is used to mean some other or something more than it says; language that is used in a non-literal way

Figures of speech 

various ways speech is used figuratively

Hyperbole 

saying more than what is meant; exaggeration

Metaphor 

a direct comparison or equivalence

Metonymy 

referring to one thing by something else it is associated with: the crown refers to the king

Personification 

attributing human qualities to a non-human or non-living object

Simile 

a comparison using the word "like" or "as"

Synecdoche 

use of a part of a person to object to refer to the person or the object: the hand that rocked the cradle to refer to the person rocking the cradle

Understatement 

saying less than what is meant

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